Related Topics

Eye Problems

When it comes to your child’s eyes, high-quality care is of the utmost importance. That’s because many vision problems and eye diseases can be corrected if detected and treated early. Pediatric eye problems are often very different from adult eye diseases and pediatric ophthalmologists (eye doctors who are also surgeons) are specially trained to manage and treat children's eye conditions.

Read More About Pediatric Eye Problems

Pediatric Eye Problems We Treat

amblyopia (lazy eye: with one weak eye and one strong one)

blocked tear ducts and defects (from the ducts not forming correctly)

pediatric glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve from a build-up of pressure in the eye)

pediatric cataract (a clouding of the eye’s lens)

eye injuries

ptosis (drooping eyelid)

refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism)

retinopathy of prematurity (a disease that occurs in premature babies and causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina)

retinoblastoma (a type of tumor involving the retina)

retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and other retinal dystrophies (diseases that cause damage to the retina

strabismus (wandering eye or “cross eyes”)

Signs of Pediatric Eye Problems

Children whose parents or siblings have eye conditions, such as strabismus or amblyopia, are more likely to have these eye disorders themselves, even if they don't have obvious signs of pediatric eye problems.

If your child has a certain medical condition such as diabetes, or a genetic disease like neurofibromatosis, it's a good idea to have regular pediatric eye exams with a pediatric ophthalmologist.

Early signs of serious pediatric eye problems, which should be evaluated by a doctor, include:

poor vision

eye pain

changes in the shape or size of an eye

crossed or wandering eyes

abnormal appearance of the pupil of one or both eyes

Genetic conditions can often cause eye problems in children. In these cases, our pediatric ophthalmologists collaborate with multi-disciplinary Nemours teams who treat children with genetic syndromes.

If your child is healthy and has no known risk factors for pediatric eye problems, then age-appropriate screening examinations with your primary care provider should be sufficient. If further evaluations are indicated, your child can be referred to our ophthalmologists as needed.

At Nemours Children's Specialty Care, Jacksonville, our pediatric ophthalmology clinic is one of two sites selected by the Children’s Eye Foundation for the national "See by Three" Vision Screening Program.

We're Totally Focused on Your Child's Healthy Vision

Expertise in treating a wide range of pediatric eye problems has made Nemours Eye Care Clinic a regional pediatric ophthalmology referral site for families from Daytona, Tallahassee, South Georgia, and elsewhere.

Our experts know kids and how to make them feel at ease. This experience enables us to perform a quality eye exam even in the youngest children and babies, which can lead to more accurate diagnoses.

See a List of Diagnostic Pediatric Eye Tests

Pediatric Eye Exams Using Equipment Just for Kids

Using the latest diagnostic techniques and equipment adapted just for children, we provide comprehensive in-office pediatric eye exams that may include:

Retinal and eye photography

By taking a digital image of the back of the eye, we are able to examine parts of the retina in a way that's not possible with conventional instruments. This allows us to detect problems and monitor the retina for any signs of damage that could result in vision reduction or loss.

Visual field testing

Assessing your child’s field of vision can help determine whether he or she has problems with peripheral, or side vision, which can sometimes be an indicator of eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Ocular ultrasonography

An ultrasound that produces a 2-D image of the eye and its surrounding tissues can show any growths or other structural abnormalities. If a more in-depth study is needed, a CT scan or MRI may also be ordered.

Optical coherence tomography

At Nemours, we have an optical coherence tomographer (OCT) which performs non-invasive imaging tests that use light waves to take pictures of your child’s retina (the light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye). An OCT allows us to measure and monitor eyes for changes over time. The test takes only a few minutes and can be performed in the clinic. The measurements help with early detection, diagnosis and treatment of common eye diseases and conditions, including diabetic eye disease.

Our Pediatric Partnership with Wolfson Children's Hospital

A unique relationship with Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville allows our Nemours eye specialists to provide pediatric eye consultation in the emergency department for acute pediatric eye problems or injuries, and in the hospital or outpatient surgery center for other sometimes complex eye cases, such as pediatric cataract surgery or tumors.

During any pediatric cataract surgery procedure, or any eye procedure requiring anesthesia, our Nemours pediatric anesthesiologists are right there with your child to make decisions on the best types of anesthesia medicine to make sure your child is comfortable.

Teaming up with Mayo Clinic

Nemours Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology also partners in the care of complex pediatric retinal disorders, such as retinoblastoma in children, with a Mayo Clinic retina specialist (an ophthalmologist who has received special training in conditions involving the retina).

Working with Equipment and in Spaces Designed for Kids

Our staff includes four pediatric ophthalmologists, a pediatric optometrist, and experienced eye technicians.

Our clinic features:

special child-friendly diagnostic equipment

exam rooms designed to allow for pediatric eye exams

a pediatric optometry room for contact lens fittings where we teach kids how to use and take care of their contacts